01 The network in 60 seconds

Berlin has 4 modes of transport that run on the same ticket: the U-Bahn (underground and on elevated tracks), the S-Bahn (mostly above ground, also connecting the surrounding region), the tram (mainly in the east of the city) and the bus. Even a few ferries are part of the fare system.

The network is run by 2 companies, BVG and S-Bahn Berlin. As a passenger you can ignore this, your ticket is valid across the whole network.

02 Zones: AB covers almost everything

The city is divided into zones A, B and C. A is the center inside the S-Bahn ring, B the rest of Berlin, C the surrounding area including Potsdam and BER airport. An AB ticket covers practically everything visitors do in the city.

You only need to remember 2 exceptions: for BER airport and for Potsdam you need zone C, meaning an ABC ticket or an extension ticket.

03 The ticket you actually need

A single ticket is valid for 2 hours in one direction, transfers are allowed, a return trip is not. For short hops there is the Kurzstrecke (short trip): 3 stations by S-Bahn or U-Bahn, or 6 stops by bus or tram without transfer.

From 3 rides a day the 24-hour ticket almost always pays off, and there is a small-group version too. If you stay a week, get the 7-day ticket and stop doing math. For longer stays there is the Deutschlandticket, a subscription valid on local transport across Germany, which you have to remember to cancel.

Current prices are on bvg.de. We deliberately quote none here because they change regularly.

04 The 60 euro mistake

There are no barriers and nobody checks your ticket as you board. Paper tickets must be stamped at the small validator on the platform or in the bus before you travel. A purchased but unvalidated ticket counts as fare dodging during an inspection and costs a 60 euro penalty fare.

Inspectors travel in plain clothes and show their badge only once the doors have closed. App tickets are validated at purchase, the problem only affects paper.

05 From BER airport into the city

BER is in zone C. The FEX airport express (23 minutes to the main station), regional trains and S-Bahn lines S9 and S85 run into the city. You need an ABC ticket, the rest is an ordinary train ride. All options compared in From BER airport into the city.

06 At night

On nights before Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays the U-Bahn and S-Bahn run all night. On weekdays the U-Bahn rests at night and night buses take over, marked with an N before the line number, roughly following the U-Bahn routes. The night network is denser than in most European cities, you will rarely need a taxi.

07 The app and the ticket machine

The BVG app shows real-time connections and sells all tickets, in English. The machines at stations speak several languages too, but do not accept every foreign card, so some cash helps. Google Maps knows the connections, the BVG app is more current during disruptions.

08 3 habits that disguise you as a Berliner

Let people off before you get on. Stand on the right on escalators. And when the announcement mentions a disruption, sigh briefly and find an alternative without a word, exactly like everyone else.